For two upcoming runs in Downtown Vegas, we're not sure if it will be more fun to be a participant or a spectator. One will ask runners to race in their skivvies while another will dust participants in just about every color in the rainbow.

With the tagline "put the hilarity in charity," it might be hard to resist this Valentine's Day themed event. Runners will take part in a one-mile fun run while in their undies (yes, they're serious about that) to raise money for the Children's Tumor Foundation. The run begins at 2 p.m. in front of the Commonwealth in Fremont East. There will be festivities before and after, too.

The annual Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon returns this weekend with an additional race, a new time, a lot of sweaty bodies and some headaches for those not participating. The marathon takes runners all over Las Vegas and that means lots of road closures to ensure the safety of participants. This yearís Rock Ďní Roll Marathon also has a†half marathon for people who don't want to endure as much on their feet. With the additional race there will be†a different course than previous years and there will be†different road closures than in the past.

A 5k will take place tomorrow, Saturday, November 15 beginning at 6 p.m. and on Sunday, November 16 for the main marathon as well as a half marathon (both starting at 4:30 p.m.) and a half of a half (a 3:30 p.m. start). That's expected to cause closures from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Most of the marathon will take place on the Vegas Strip between Russell Road and Ogden Avenue while the 5k will do a loose loop around the SLS. Closures will extend well beyond the Vegas Strip. Here are road closures and approximate times to avoid or, if you'd like to watch, to line the streets for Sunday's marathon:

If a full marathon is a bit too much for you as is a half-marathon and a half of a half, the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon now has something right up your jogging path. The popular annual race has added a 5K sponsored by SLS Las Vegas to its roster.

Set for the night before November's main event, this race will start and end at SLS on Saturday, November 15. The full marathon on Sunday, November 16 starts at Mandalay Bay and finishes at The Mirage.

Itís amazing that some people can visit Las Vegas and never see more than The Strip. With the Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon and Lake Mead so close, itís mind-boggling that more tourists donít take advantage of nearby offerings. For some, the reason is they came to relax, enjoy bottle service by the pool and dance all night at clubs. For many, itís just because theyíre only here a few days and donít have the time. Enter Fremont Street. Itís very close to The Strip and is chock-full of rich history (and 99 cent margaritas!) visitors can soak up.

Mount Charleston, a 45-minute drive from The Strip, provides among many experiences. It's a beautiful contrast to the traditional Las Vegas vacation or for many, including locals, an excellent refuge from scorching summer temperatures. This writer's first visit to Mount Charleston was with a handful of other locals that knew the trails and nearby parking areas well so that little homework was needed ahead of time. Whether you know it like the back of your hand or you're a first timer, just hop in a car, enjoy the ride and the subsequent hike through the mountains.

For comparison, my very first trip to Red Rock Canyon was a fluke, found by steering a rental car away from The Strip to explore a road less traveled. My initial visit to Death Valley was a planned one, prompting the researcher in me to hit the Internet and guide books. Yet, on both the unexpected trip and the scheduled one, my first stop inside the park was to the... visitor center.

We're back with another off Strip adventure, but this time to an interesting diamond in the rough that's often overlooked.

Right between Mount Charleston and Death Valley and just north of Pahrump, Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge has plenty to offer both locals and tourists alike. A refuge since 1984 after being considered for many types of uses including a housing development, Ash Meadows is one of Nevada's most unique environments. With many types of plant and animal species that exist nowhere else on earth except in this refuge, it is no wonder this ecosystem is a protected area and we're glad it never became a sea of homes.

The event moved to November last year after a long run of pairing up with cowboys in December. (Hey-o!) As usual, both half marathon (13.1 miles) and full marathon (26.2) courses are available with a start time of 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 16. Also for the second year in a row, the Zappos 1/2 of the Half (6.5 miles) offers a chance to run The Strip pre-dusk with a kickoff that's an hour earlier.

Downtown's gonna make you sweat, but hopefully not 'til you bleed when another 5K takes to the streets this summer.

Local group, Downtown Runners, have announced their third themed event, the Sprinkler Sprint, hitting the pavement this June. The race will keep runners well hydrated as they shoot through multiple water zones of bubble tunnels, water cannon blasts, super soaker zones, water hydrants, slip n slides and dodge kids armed with cups full of H2O.

During a recent back-and-forth email exchange with a VegasChatter reader regarding possible golf course destinations for an upcoming bachelor party, this writer was once again smacked in the face with the sobering reality of how expense this town can be at times. Eighteen holes of golf on a mid-ranked local track can cost a pretty penny this time of year, which got me thinking: How can those of us who want to get outside for some fun do it on the cheap?

The City of Las Vegas offers quite a few disc golf courses for those of you looking to get away from the Strip to catch some rays and breathe some fresh air. Here’s a rundown of five of the most popular courses in town:

Behind an unassuming door just steps from The Cromwell's casino floor lies its gym. It's so understated we didn't even know it was there. And, anyway, a gym off the casino floor? Really?

VegasChatter member @paperposter made the discovery today and tells us that if the door hadn't been open when he walked by, he would have been none the wiser, too. But, where there's a will open door, there's a way so @paperposter popped in for a quick look and the snapshots you see in this post.

Though a seemingly popular event of 17-, 61- and 104-mile rides that capped Interbike week, it turns out the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) saw a decrease in participation last year and lost money on the event. Moving forward, the RTC plans to instead stage smaller community-focused rides that will presumably turn a profit.